Footguard Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Footguard Hall
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Footguard and High Sts., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | Mead, John C. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | Hartford Downtown MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000771 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 1984 |
Footguard Hall is a special building in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the main home and training place for the First Company Governor's Footguard. This is a very old military group from the state of Connecticut.
The Footguard started in 1771. Their first job was to protect the state's leader, called the governor. They also protected the state's lawmakers. Today, their role is mostly for ceremonies and special events.
Footguard Hall is a brick building with a unique style. It was built in 1888. In 1984, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical building.
What Does Footguard Hall Look Like?
Footguard Hall is in downtown Hartford. You can find it at the corner of High Street and Footguard Way. It is a large building made of red bricks. It also has brown stone details.
The front part of the building has two floors. It has a sloped roof. A tall, square tower stands near the middle of the front. This tower has a pointed roof.
On each side of the tower, you will see windows. These windows are grouped together. On the first floor, they are in square openings. On the second floor, they are under large rounded arches. The main door is at the bottom of the tower. It has a round arch over it, like a small porch. A very large room for meetings and drills is behind the front part of the building.
The History of the Governor's Footguard
The First Company Governor's Footguard was created in 1771. This was when Connecticut was still a colony. The group was formed to protect the governor and the state's lawmakers.
Members of the Footguard have helped in many of the country's wars. But now, their main job is to take part in parades and special events. They are a ceremonial group.
Before Footguard Hall was built, the company did not have its own building. This special building was designed by an architect named John C. Mead. He was a well-known architect in the area. The building was finished in 1888.
When it was new, Footguard Hall was called the largest meeting hall. It was bigger than any other between Boston and New York City. Many public events have been held there over the years.
